Sometimes. It's cheap as shiat right now and they are drilling primarily for oil. It's not worth the effort or investment to build the infrastructure to pipe it out. Now, if there was say an overseas market that would be willing to pay a metric farkton more than it's bringing domestically...Oh wait!

That being said, flaring gas at the well site is nothing new. My Dad told me that back in the 50s you could drive through the fields south of Electra Texas at midnight at it was almost as bright as day.

Sometimes. It's cheap as shiat right now and they are drilling primarily for oil. It's not worth the effort or investment to build the infrastructure to pipe it out. Now, if there was say an overseas market that would be willing to pay a metric farkton more than it's bringing domestically...Oh wait!

That being said, flaring gas at the well site is nothing new. My Dad told me that back in the 50s you could drive through the fields south of Electra Texas at midnight at it was almost as bright as day.

Still, it feels like they're leaving money on the table, even with the cost of infrastructure in comparison to the massive desire for natural gas. It's a limited resource, why not just gather and store?

Solon Isonomia:Still, it feels like they're leaving money on the table, even with the cost of infrastructure in comparison to the massive desire for natural gas. It's a limited resource, why not just gather and store?

No storage left. Really. It's insane and there are countries all but sucking our wang for the stuff. There is a concerted effort on the part of a few manufacturers to keep the DoE from authorizing mass exports. Combine that with the desire of the government to convert 'dirty' power generators to NG and you have a over supply issue. There are a couple of projects on the Texas coast to liquefy the product and ship overseas but until the greenlight is given to readily export it, it's just another waste byproduct of the oil extraction process good for little more than flaring.

Dancin_In_Anson:Solon Isonomia: Still, it feels like they're leaving money on the table, even with the cost of infrastructure in comparison to the massive desire for natural gas. It's a limited resource, why not just gather and store?

No storage left. Really. It's insane and there are countries all but sucking our wang for the stuff. There is a concerted effort on the part of a few manufacturers to keep the DoE from authorizing mass exports. Combine that with the desire of the government to convert 'dirty' power generators to NG and you have a over supply issue. There are a couple of projects on the Texas coast to liquefy the product and ship overseas but until the greenlight is given to readily export it, it's just another waste byproduct of the oil extraction process good for little more than flaring.

Ugh... that just makes me sick. That's seriously wasteful, disgustingly wasteful. Hmmm... I wonder if an activist shareholder could run with that, sort of a corporate waste suit...

Solon Isonomia:Ugh... that just makes me sick. That's seriously wasteful, disgustingly wasteful. Hmmm... I wonder if an activist shareholder could run with that, sort of a corporate waste suit..

Easy, Tiger. The oil companies are foaming at the mouth to sell it. My figures aren't exact, but LNG is on the US market at ~$4.00/ thousand Cu Ft and the overseas market is closer to $15. The block is at the regulatory level.

Just standard business practice. Why bother think for tomorrow when profit today is all that matters?

Because some of your shareholders might want to look at the long game and know how to use their position to redirect the company in the direction they want. At least, that's the idea behind certain shareholder rights.

Dancin_In_Anson:Solon Isonomia: Ugh... that just makes me sick. That's seriously wasteful, disgustingly wasteful. Hmmm... I wonder if an activist shareholder could run with that, sort of a corporate waste suit..

Easy, Tiger. The oil companies are foaming at the mouth to sell it. My figures aren't exact, but LNG is on the US market at ~$4.00/ thousand Cu Ft and the overseas market is closer to $15. The block is at the regulatory level.

Right, but which manufacturers are creating the bottleneck at the DoE? Are they just trying to stall for time so they have the infrastructure to corner the export market?

Just standard business practice. Why bother think for tomorrow when profit today is all that matters?

Because some of your shareholders might want to look at the long game and know how to use their position to redirect the company in the direction they want. At least, that's the idea behind certain shareholder rights.

And at the cost of what long term damage? They don't give a fark about that. The bottom line trumps all. So what about waste? So what about environmental damage? As long as you make money, people like DIA will think it's somehow the greatest thing ever. He doesn't care that this is the kind of shiat that's going to leave his grandchildren a ruined world. He's can't think in long term. Profit now is all he can see.

Dancin_In_Anson:Solon Isonomia: Right, but which manufacturers are creating the bottleneck at the DoE?

Here is am article regarding this issue.

And another.

Ahhhh, so the fight is over the amount of exports. Hmm... one would think an improved infrastructure combined with the heaps of newly available natural gas would be an effective way to keep domestic prices stable while reaping a profit on the export market. Of course, that would assume infrastructure could be created in a timely manner and the brokers on the futures market don't create too many wild price spikes.

Solon Isonomia:Ahhhh, so the fight is over the amount of exports. Hmm... one would think an improved infrastructure combined with the heaps of newly available natural gas would be an effective way to keep domestic prices stable while reaping a profit on the export market.

One might think. The supply is strong enough to keep the price level domestically and achieving the goal of keeping prices of electricity from converted coal fired plants at or below current levels while reaping solid benefits on the national level from exports. Will prices go up for some manufactured goods that are produced using NG? Of course but not to a detriment IMO.

Solon Isonomia:Dancin_In_Anson: Solon Isonomia: Right, but which manufacturers are creating the bottleneck at the DoE?

Here is am article regarding this issue.

And another.

Ahhhh, so the fight is over the amount of exports. Hmm... one would think an improved infrastructure combined with the heaps of newly available natural gas would be an effective way to keep domestic prices stable while reaping a profit on the export market. Of course, that would assume infrastructure could be created in a timely manner and the brokers on the futures market don't create too many wild price spikes.

Or you intentionally don't overshoot the demand so you don't have to burn off your product. How hard is it to actually build for demand?

Paris1127:Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it? Maybe use it to power the local community?

/fracking's bad enough//now they're just being wasteful

a) There is no local community. This is extrab) Nobody will let them build pipelines. Something about how it might hurt the environment to build a pipeline. So instead they burn it. Works out well that way.

brandent:Paris1127: Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it? Maybe use it to power the local community?

/fracking's bad enough//now they're just being wasteful

a) There is no local community. This is extrab) Nobody will let them build pipelines. Something about how it might hurt the environment to build a pipeline. So instead they burn it. Works out well that way.

You can build relatively safe pipelines. The safety equipment exists that would prevent all the blowouts that are so common. But the holy bottom line is better, and that costs a little more, so fark the future.

GAT_00:But the holy bottom line is better, and that costs a little more, so fark the future.

Jesus farking God boy. Do you realize that if exports were allowed, the price would go up enough to afford to build these "relatively safe' pipelines and use the product in industry and power generation thereby preserving the 'future' via the desired green path?!

GAT_00:brandent: Paris1127: Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it? Maybe use it to power the local community?

/fracking's bad enough//now they're just being wasteful

a) There is no local community. This is extrab) Nobody will let them build pipelines. Something about how it might hurt the environment to build a pipeline. So instead they burn it. Works out well that way.

You can build relatively safe pipelines. The safety equipment exists that would prevent all the blowouts that are so common. But the holy bottom line is better, and that costs a little more, so fark the future.

No what I'm saying is way more explicit. The Obama administration is putting blocks on the plans for pipelines. They'd rather the stuff burn off into the atmosphere I guess.

brandent:GAT_00: brandent: Paris1127: Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it? Maybe use it to power the local community?

/fracking's bad enough//now they're just being wasteful

a) There is no local community. This is extrab) Nobody will let them build pipelines. Something about how it might hurt the environment to build a pipeline. So instead they burn it. Works out well that way.

You can build relatively safe pipelines. The safety equipment exists that would prevent all the blowouts that are so common. But the holy bottom line is better, and that costs a little more, so fark the future.

No what I'm saying is way more explicit. The Obama administration is putting blocks on the plans for pipelines. They'd rather the stuff burn off into the atmosphere I guess.

Those pipelines get blocked because the companies don't bother trying to prevent environmental damage. Keystone was blocked, for example, yes I know that's oil and not NG, because they didn't scout a route across Nebraska, leaving a very serious potential of an oil leak into the Ogallala aquifer. They don't use advanced safety techniques, because they know they won't have to pay for the decades of damage.

And even then, the pipeline was going to be confirmed as soon as they specified the route. These are being blocked because these lazy farks refuse to do basic work to prevent decades of damage for a few dollars.

Dancin_In_Anson:Solon Isonomia: Still, it feels like they're leaving money on the table, even with the cost of infrastructure in comparison to the massive desire for natural gas. It's a limited resource, why not just gather and store?

No storage left. Really. It's insane and there are countries all but sucking our wang for the stuff. There is a concerted effort on the part of a few manufacturers to keep the DoE from authorizing mass exports. Combine that with the desire of the government to convert 'dirty' power generators to NG and you have a over supply issue. There are a couple of projects on the Texas coast to liquefy the product and ship overseas but until the greenlight is given to readily export it, it's just another waste byproduct of the oil extraction process good for little more than flaring.

Because there's no chance we'd ever need this stuff in the future, right? Assuming your first three words are even correct, build some more f*cking storage. And converting power generators from coal and oil to NG would create excess demand, not excess supply.

Not mention the insanity of pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for absolutely zero benefit.

2) Get approval to sell the bulk of it overseas, stop burning and start exporting

3) Cry about a "natural gas shortage" in ten years and triple the price.

3) Profit!

Just added an extra step in there so we can cover the export angle.The only people that would benefit from exporting natural gas are the gas companies. Meanwhile, everybody that heats a home with gas is going to see a price increase, because no gas company is going to want to sell it to you for $4 per thousand cubic feet when they can sell it for $15. They might cut Joe Homeowner a break though, and let him have it for $12.

Solon Isonomia:Dancin_In_Anson: Solon Isonomia: Ugh... that just makes me sick. That's seriously wasteful, disgustingly wasteful. Hmmm... I wonder if an activist shareholder could run with that, sort of a corporate waste suit..

Easy, Tiger. The oil companies are foaming at the mouth to sell it. My figures aren't exact, but LNG is on the US market at ~$4.00/ thousand Cu Ft and the overseas market is closer to $15. The block is at the regulatory level.

Right, but which manufacturers are creating the bottleneck at the DoE? Are they just trying to stall for time so they have the infrastructure to corner the export market?

Probably it would cost more at the outset to also build facilities to capture and store extra natural gas at the surface than to just flare it off while they're fracking deeper down. That would be my guess--they don't want the extra capital outlay.

Speaker2Animals:Dancin_In_Anson: Solon Isonomia: Still, it feels like they're leaving money on the table, even with the cost of infrastructure in comparison to the massive desire for natural gas. It's a limited resource, why not just gather and store?

No storage left. Really. It's insane and there are countries all but sucking our wang for the stuff. There is a concerted effort on the part of a few manufacturers to keep the DoE from authorizing mass exports. Combine that with the desire of the government to convert 'dirty' power generators to NG and you have a over supply issue. There are a couple of projects on the Texas coast to liquefy the product and ship overseas but until the greenlight is given to readily export it, it's just another waste byproduct of the oil extraction process good for little more than flaring.

Because there's no chance we'd ever need this stuff in the future, right? Assuming your first three words are even correct, build some more f*cking storage. And converting power generators from coal and oil to NG would create excess demand, not excess supply.

Not mention the insanity of pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for absolutely zero benefit.

Aside from the natural salt domes that we use to "store natural gas" the only other ways of safely storing them are in Natural Gas Spheres which are safe 99.9% of the time, but that other 0.01%? Yea, shiat goes to hell after that.

The other option is specialized tanks that I know, that at least Exxon has 3 or 4 of them currently, that hold liquefied natural gas. These tanks, however, are extremely expensive, take a shiat ton of time to build and require a liquefaction facility.

You're talking billions in infrastructure for a demand that may not be there in the future. Add on to that, it's the middle of freaking no where, the NIMBY types, the government delays in permitting, and ever changing environmental regulations (not a bad thing) leads to operators going "fark it, light a match"

Also, not directed at you specifically, fracking has been used since the 1940s on liquid oil wells to stimulate reserves and improve yield.

Paris1127:Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it?

Everyone else seems to have regulation and short-term thinking and all the other stuff covered, but there's one other factor:

From what I understand, this gas is more of a safety hazard than anything else. First off (and sorry I can't cite because I read this years ago), methane near crude tends to be "sour", by which I mean it has a lot of sulfur (HS, SO2, SO3) that needs to be extracted from it first. This is difficult and costly to do, to the point that it's a money-burning proposition to sell it as fuel. In other words, there isn't a whole lot you can do with the stuff. These flares are basically venting the well to prevent build-up of flammable, corrosive AND toxic gases; it's costly to store and dispose of some other way. Pump it back underground, which defeats the purpose of the vent, and it'll just seep out. Methane is a VERY potent greenhouse gas; much worse than carbon dioxide. The sulfur-based gases are highly toxic and MUST be deal with. Finally, it's not a huge amount of methane; it's what's precipitating out of an oil well. The stuff burns bright because it's explosive and there's no effort made to hide the flame, as the whole point is to disperse the exhaust.

TL;DR: The most environmentally safe and considerate thing to do with the gas is to flare it off. It will result in more carbon dioxide and acid rain (which happens when you burn sulfur), but it's not the process that's harmful so much as our fark-the-consequences obsession with the materialistic and shortsighted waste of fossil fuels. Drilling for oil has ALWAYS been environmentally costly; you think that suddenly changed a few years ago?? Welcome back to reality. If you don't like it, ditch the goddamn Canyonero.

dragonchild:Paris1127: Now, call me crazy, but why don't they, you know, use that natural gas? You know, instead of just burning it?

Everyone else seems to have regulation and short-term thinking and all the other stuff covered, but there's one other factor:

From what I understand, this gas is more of a safety hazard than anything else. First off (and sorry I can't cite because I read this years ago), methane near crude tends to be "sour", by which I mean it has a lot of sulfur (HS, SO2, SO3) that needs to be extracted from it first. This is difficult and costly to do, to the point that it's a money-burning proposition to sell it as fuel. In other words, there isn't a whole lot you can do with the stuff. These flares are basically venting the well to prevent build-up of flammable, corrosive AND toxic gases; it's costly to store and dispose of some other way. Pump it back underground, which defeats the purpose of the vent, and it'll just seep out. Methane is a VERY potent greenhouse gas; much worse than carbon dioxide. The sulfur-based gases are highly toxic and MUST be deal with. Finally, it's not a huge amount of methane; it's what's precipitating out of an oil well. The stuff burns bright because it's explosive and there's no effort made to hide the flame, as the whole point is to disperse the exhaust.

TL;DR: The most environmentally safe and considerate thing to do with the gas is to flare it off. It will result in more carbon dioxide and acid rain (which happens when you burn sulfur), but it's not the process that's harmful so much as our fark-the-consequences obsession with the materialistic and shortsighted waste of fossil fuels. Drilling for oil has ALWAYS been environmentally costly; you think that suddenly changed a few years ago?? Welcome back to reality. If you don't like it, ditch the goddamn Canyonero.

Gyrfalcon:Solon Isonomia: Dancin_In_Anson: Solon Isonomia: Ugh... that just makes me sick. That's seriously wasteful, disgustingly wasteful. Hmmm... I wonder if an activist shareholder could run with that, sort of a corporate waste suit..

Easy, Tiger. The oil companies are foaming at the mouth to sell it. My figures aren't exact, but LNG is on the US market at ~$4.00/ thousand Cu Ft and the overseas market is closer to $15. The block is at the regulatory level.

Right, but which manufacturers are creating the bottleneck at the DoE? Are they just trying to stall for time so they have the infrastructure to corner the export market?

Probably it would cost more at the outset to also build facilities to capture and store extra natural gas at the surface than to just flare it off while they're fracking deeper down. That would be my guess--they don't want the extra capital outlay.

Uh, but you don't have to capture and transport the natural gas. Funny thing, you can convert it to electricity which is easy to transport.

Then again, what would I know, there's only 3 waste gas generators on the family farm in the middle of the Bakken. They paid for themselves 3 years ago. Pure profit on top of the oil rights at this point.

Now, if we had just invested in high power DC transmission lines rather than sure to fail solar "technology" firms this wouldn't be happening...